Running Through COVID-19
So much has changed in the world in the eleven weeks since my Boston Marathon training cycle came to a grinding halt when that
race and the London Marathon were both postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In early March, I signed a contract with a realtor to sell my townhouse! On April 11th, completed the “2020 Runners Run Marathon” on the rail-trails near my house.
But instead of feeling gratified, those 26.2 miles felt self-indulgent and I decided to just focus on moving for a while.
A week later, I moved into my new apartment! I finally had a view of the city I love so much – something I’ve wanted for a long time.
And then a week after that, I said good-bye to my townhouse – the place that’s kept me safe these past 15 years.
When I moved into that place, I was very unsure about my future. I had recently broken-up with a boyfriend and was at a job that I didn’t find challenging. Somehow, I found my way through those challenges and running was a big part of that process.
Moving into my new apartment, I felt that same sense of rebirth and possibility – even in these troubling times.
In May, I started running regularly again.
Running Schedule
March 15th – May 23rd
| Dates | Miles | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 15th – March 21st | 5.8 | 57:19 | 9:55 |
| March 22nd – March 28th | 31.6 | 4:55:13 | 9:20 |
| March 29th – April 4th | 50.6 | 8:04:29 | 9:35 |
| April 5th – April 11th | 56.6 | 9:22:32 | 9:57 |
| April 12th – April 18th | 0.0 | 0:00:00 | 0.00 |
| April 19th – April 25th | 0.0 | 0:00:00 | 0:00 |
| April 26th – May 2nd | 27.9 | 4:24:51 | 9:29 |
| May 3rd – May 9th | 40.0 | 6:11:26 | 9:17 |
| May 10th – May 16th | 41.1 | 6:17:24 | 9:12 |
| May 17th – May 23rd | 42.4 | 6:40:25 | 9:27 |
| May 24th – May 30th | 40.0 | 6:18:54 | 9:28 |
Workouts
Long Runs
With the 2020 Boston Marathon postponed, I skipped a long run the next weekend. Planning to run 26,2 miles sometime in April anyway, I did a 12-mile (9:19 pace) loop on March 29th that included the Mount Vernon Trail, in Arlington, Virginia. There were a lot of people on the trail and it was impossible to practice social distancing and stay six feet apart. I worried that the trails would be closed.
And then two weeks before my alternative marathon, I ran an easy 15-miler (10:10 pace).
I ran the “2020 Runners Run Marathon” (10:39 pace) on April 11th and then took a long break.
I didn’t feel like running long again until May 3rd when I ran a 10-miler (9:30 pace). The following weekend, I did a short 8 miler (8:52 pace). Leaving the Custis Trail, I saw someone wrote “This Shall Pass” in chalk on the pedestrian Bridge.
The next weekend, I ran 10.5 miles (9:29 pace). At the end of the run, a bus driver honked at me. His acknowledgement made the world feel… normal.
Last weekend, I ran 11.5 miles (9:41 pace).
Interval Runs
Tuesdays were still all about speed work. As usual, I ran them on my track – the Four Mile Run Trail and Mount Vernon Trail.
With the 2020 Boston Marathon postponed, I skipped a couple of weeks and then did 12 x 0.25 mile w/0.25 mile recoveries on March 29th. My splits were 1:54, 1:59, 1:48, 1;42, 1:54, 1:53 going out and then 1:51, 1:52, 1:54, 1:55, 1:54, 1:56 coming back.
After running the 2020 Runners Run Marathon on April 11th, I went into moving mode. When I was ready to run again, speed work was the first thing I added.
On April 28th, I did 6 x 0.25 mile @ goal 5K pace w/0.25 mi. recovery jogs. My splits were 1:49, 1:52, 1:54 on the way out and 1:49, 1:54, 1:52 on the way back. The next week, I added two sets and my splits were slightly slower – 1:51, 1:54, 1:57, 2;04, going out, and 1:53, 1:45, 1:58, 1:58 coming back.
On May 12th, I decided to run the Teddy Roosevelt Island Strava segment as part of the RunWashington DMV Distance Derby Strava Segment Challenge” because it was the closest to home. It was a good run and I clocked a 10:13 (7:34 pace).
I did 8 x 0.25 mile w/0.25 mile recoveries again but even slower than before. My splits were 1:58, 2:00, 1:53, 2;01, going out, and 1:56, 1:52, 1:55, 1:57 coming back.
Strength Runs
During my 2020 Boston Marathon training cycle, Thursdays were for goal-marathon paced runs. Once the race was called off, I took a few days to recover before re-focusing on my “2020 Runners Run Marathon” before resuming them on April 2nd. On that day, I ran 3 miles @ goal-marathon pace (8:12 pace). After the “race”, I took several weeks off from hard running so I could focus on my move.
On April 30th, I did 2 x 1 mile @ goal-marathon pace (8:16 and 8:27) w/0.25 mile recoveries on the Four Mile Run Trail. The next week, I did an additional set for 3 x 1 mile @ goal marathon pace (8:04, 8:26, and 8:16) w/0.25 mile recoveries.
On May 14th, I went for a steady paced run rather than intervals. I ran 5 miles @ goal marathon pace (8:39 pace) on the Four Mile Run Trail and the Mount Vernon Trail near National Airport. The next week, I did the Custis Climb – Key Bridge to Glebe as part of the RunWashington DMV Distance Derby Strava Segment Challenge” in 26:34 (8:43 pace).
Health
For a month, I went back and forth between my old townhouse and new apartment preparing to sell my place and move. I socially distanced as well as I could, but worried about catching coronavirus. In the early days of the stay-at-home order, I was sneezing a lot but decided it was allergies. Later, I found out that the corridor where I live had the highest number of cases in the county. But, I remained in good health.
Injuries. I have not been injury-free, though. My left knee hurt often during runs, especially on downhills. My feet also hurt and I suspect are suffering from plantar fasciitis.
Weight. Like many people, I also put on a few pounds from over-eating and less activity.
Routes
Trails. Early in the stay-at-home order, it was unclear whether exercising outdoors was safe. Parks and tracks were closed but the local rail-trails were open although group running was prohibited.
While the trails were open, amenities like bathrooms and water fountains were off-limits. In fact, even the porta-potties were removed from Gravelly Point on the Mount Vernon Trail.
And safety remained a concern. Recently, on a section of the Custis Trail, someone stenciled “Wear a Mask in Public” on the asphalt.
On a brighter note, now that I’m at a new address, I’m having to re-create all of my favorite running routes.
Treadmills. Gyms were also closed during this time and I didn’t own a treadmill. My new building has a fitness center but it’s also closed at the moment.
My Guide to Washington D.C. Area Running Routes
Clothing
When I packed up my townhouse, I purged a few running gear items so I have an excuse to buy new stuff!
Neck warmers. Buff. When I suddenly had to find a way to cover my nose and mouth in public, these became indespensible. Over the years, I’ve bough several buffs for winter running and was able to wear and wash them frequently. However, my favorite neck warmer is actually one that I got from Stridebox.
Arm bands. Bondi Band. With summer coming, the first thing I bought were some arm bands to hold my smartphone. These are my favorite because they’re snug on my arm but the fabric is still pliable. They also come in lot of fun colors.
Gear
StrideBox. One of the last packages that I received at my old place was from Stridebox. Most of the items are things I’ve tried before: Nuun Sport, Luna Bar, and Vitalyte. But, there were a few that I hadn’t: Bottle Band bottle grip, Glukos liquid energy gel, and Foods Alive crackers,
Unfortunately, I didn’t change my address before the May box shipped so I will have to wait for June.
Media & Motivation
How to Run Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns, Runner’s World. This article aimed to provide guidance on how to run outdoors. In general, it suggested running alone in noncrowded areas. The advice isn’t clear on wearing masks while running but rather provides information on how masks work.
However, the story that had the biggest impact on me was this one.
News. “Running Community Virtually Comes Together to Remember Ahmaud Arbery“. There have been so many stories of black people having the authorities called on them for doing ordinary things, so someone taking the law into their own hands seemed like a natural outcome. When I thought about all the questionable things runners do without consequence like jumping fences to get onto golf courses or tracks, slapping cars that almost hit them, it made me angry whenever I read and comment from a runner defending what happened. But, I also felt incredibly proud that the running community helped his family finally achieve some measure of justice.
“Episode 182: Running and Racism,” from Running Rogue. I appreciated how this podcast addressed the Ahmaud Arbery story by having a black woman runner on to talk about race. It’s an uncomfortable topic for many of us but the host’s sincerity in wanting to understand and learn was clear.
Websites and Blogs. “Strava Cuts Off Leaderboard for Free Users, Reduces 3rd Party Apps for All“, DC Rainmaker. Just when I was getting excited about the “DMV Distance Derby Strava Segment Challenge“, Strava pulled the leaderboards! I will still participate because, just like racing, I don’t really know what the competition is doing.
Racing Schedule
Runner rankings. “DMV Distance Derby Strava Segment Challenge Replaces Run Washington Runner Rankings for 2020” from RunWashington. With races canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, one local publication replaced its runner rankings with a Strava segment challenge. One of my goals last fall was to return to the runner rankings this spring, so I was up for the challenge. The start date for the challenge was May 1st. I narrowed the segments that I would like to compete for to Hains Point (2.5 miles), Teddy Roosevelt Island (1.3 miles), and Custis Climb – Key Bridge to Glebe (2.9 miles).
Future races. The good news is that my boyfriend and I were able to get our money back for our hotels in Boston and London. And, we can rebook a flight with Virgin Atlantic sometime next year. However, the future of major marathons is uncertain.
The Boston Marathon has already announced that the September 14th race will be a virtual one. The London Marathon will provide an update later in June.
In many ways, the past two months have felt like a chance to start over and that’s exactly what I’ve been craving from my running. I got slower in the past year – whether from age or overtraining – and I want to get my speed back.
COVID-19 will pass. It’s just a matter of time.
